Tabitha D'umo

Infobox Person
name = Tabitha D'umo (Cortopassi)


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birth_date =
birth_place = flagicon|USA New Jersey, USA
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occupation = Choreographer
spouse = Napoleon D'umo
children =

Tabitha D'umo, originally from New Jersey, is a choreographer and dancer who is often credited as being the hardest hitting female hip hop dancer in the world. Along with her husband, Napoleon D'umo, the pair (affectionately known as "Nappy Tabs") own Step By Step Productionscite web |url=http://www.napoleonandtabitha.com/videoReel.html |title= Step By Step Productions. Official Site of Napoleon & Tabitha D'umo. Video Reel.] , teach at the Edge Performing Arts Centercite web |url=http://www.edgepac.com/Teachers/J_R/NTD.Dumo_T.N/dumo.htm |title=Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo |title=Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo |accessdate=2008-07-13] and Millennium Dance Complex in Hollywood, and direct "Monsters of Hip Hop: The Show".cite web |url=http://www.fox.com/dance/bios.htm |title=Bios |accessdate=2008-07-10]

The couple resides in Sherman Oaks, CA. The duo met at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was pre-med. [http://www.usmagazine.com/sytycd-napoleon-and-tabitha-inside-our-marriage Usmagazine.com | So You Think You Can Dance Choreographers: Inside Our Marriage ] ]

They started their partnership in Las Vegas, NV, directing and choreographing a variety of shows for casinos and companies such as Nike, Levi and Mac.cite web |url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z139z5z4&bioid=1835 |title=Tabitha D'umo & Napoleon D'umo |accessdate=2008-07-13] Their decision to move to Los Angeles, CA, opened doors in the film, music video, tour, television, and commercial world.

Choreography and performance credits with musical acts include: Celine Dion, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Toni Braxton, Destiny's Child, Timbaland, De La Soul, Kristine W, Culture Shock, and Funky Green Dogs. Their assistant director credits for music tours include Ricky Martin’s "Black and White Tour," Christina Aguilera’s "Back to Basics Tour" and Kanye West’s current tour. Their television and film credits include Nickelodeon’s "Zoey 101", the Grammy Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, "Soul Train" and "Legally Blonde". Napoleon and Tabitha have also done choreography for NFL and NBA dance teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bulls, and Orlando Magic.

While the dance world has long known of this dynamic duo, working on the television show "America's Best Dance Crew" brought this duo's work into households across the world. In addition, they have recently joined the choreography and judging team on "So You Think You Can Dance". Guest judge Adam Shankman credits this duo with mastering the newly developed strand of hip-hop, known as lyrical hip-hop. The couple has also taken on hosting duties for "Rock the Reception", which premieres July 15, 2008 on TLC. [ [http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/rock-the-reception/rock-the-reception.html Rock the Reception: TLC ] ] They create fun wedding dances for couples to surprise the guests.

The couple work really hard, says Napoleon, "but what better work can you ask for than to be with her?" Tabitha and Napoleon are described as a very cute couple who "finishes each other's sentences" according to Marcy of theshockintensive.com. "We have been working together for so long," Tabitha tells "Us". "We know how one another operate and have such a good rhythm. If we are apart, I miss him because I need his feedback. I welcome his input even if it is different than mine because it always gives us a better product."

Meeting at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in the early 1990s when she was Tabitha Cortopassi, the couple were avid dancers. "I didn't plan on dancing as a career choice," she said. "In college I started to make the change. After we graduated, we thought we'd follow our dreams and go for it." After a few years of minor success, the couple slowly picked up more high-profile jobs. In the late 1990s, the couple started choreographing dances for Nike, Matrix Hair Products and various fashion shows. Then they got the opportunity to choreograph Destiny Child's 2000 "Say My Name" tour. Choreographing musicians' tours opened the door for reality television. Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo are unique, though, in that they almost always work together. Tabitha D'Umo is very pleased with the arrangement. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she said. "We know each other so well. It's a great balance, we finish each other's sentences." This bond led them to consider trying out for the TLC show. TLC's Tuesday night line-up includes back-to-back wedding shows. "Rock the Reception" follows "Say Yes to the Dress," a show that depicts brides-to-be picking out just the right wedding gown. "'Rock the Reception' brings a whole new twist on the traditional first dance, focusing on what has become the latest phenomenon in modern weddings," said Brent Zacky, a TLC executive. During each episode, the D'Umos craft a dance that caters to the couple's preferences. "The show celebrates the non-dancers who don't want a traditional dance and want to surprise their family," she said. Sanctioned wedding crashing goes along with the show. "It's funny because people are starting to recognize us from TV. We've begun to make up lies, saying that we're old friends with the couples." Although reaction at the weddings has always been positive, D'Umo says that the preparation is a little different. "The process sometimes is a rocky road. The couples don't realize what hard work it is going to be and by the end they are pretty exhausted," she said. "I think it foreshadows a little what their relationship will be like." Songs featured on the show include "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce, "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer, "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice and the theme song from "Footloose." In addition to their television work, the D'Umos have started their own clothing line, NappyTabs - derived from their first names. The brand is hip-dance apparel that is a departure from leotards and jazz shoes. "The idea started from a need we saw for active street urban wear for hip-hop dancers," she said. Although she now lives in Los Angeles, D'Umo doesn't forget her past. "I'm a Jersey girl. Those are my roots. I never expected to come from a small town and do what I'm doing." She graduated from Absegami High School in 1990. D'Umo hopes to visit Atlantic City to celebrate her 35th birthday in September by hanging out with her mom, Cynthia Rose Cortopassi, and an old friend, Celine Dion. Dion's tour stops at Boardwalk Hall Sept. 22. However, D'Umo says she may be stuck in L.A. working on, what else, dance. The one-time hobby transformed the Jersey girl into a celebrity herself.

References

External links

* [http://www.napoleonandtabitha.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.edgepac.com/Teachers/pic_resume/J_R/NTD.Dumo_T.N/dumo.htm Bio at Edge Performing Arts Center]
* [http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/rock-the-reception/rock-the-reception.html Rock the Reception]